African violet plant

ABSTRACT

An African violet known by the cultivar name Louisiana having light pink, single, non-dropping flowers with frilled edges, the flowers being carried on upright and relatively short stems. The flowers appear just above the rosette of dark green leaves. The cultivar also has a compact habit and excellent growth characteristics.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Africanviolet plant, botanically known as Saintpaulia ionantha, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Louisiana. The new cultivar wasidentified during the breeding and selection process by the number16/15 - 84/77. Louisiana is a product of a planned breeding programwhich had the objective of creating a new African violet cultivar havingslightly frilled, non-dropping flowers light pink in flower color andcarried on relatively short flower stems. These traits in combinationwere not present in previously available commercial cultivars.

The new cultivar was originated from a cross made in a controlledbreeding program in Isselburg, Rhineland, Germany. The female, or seedparent is identified by the designation F III pink frilled (color RHS 62D). The male, or pollen parent, is identified as XIX 4395 pink star(color RHS 65 A).

Louisiana was discovered and selected as a flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by me in a controlled environment inIsselburg, Rhineland, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by leaf cuttings and bydivision of shoots, as performed by me at Isselburg, Rhineland, Germany,has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as hereindisclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following observations, measurements and values describe plantsgrown in Isselburg, Rhineland, Germany, under greenhouse conditionswhich closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Louisiana, which in combination distinguishthis African violet as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Upright and relatively short, strong flower stems.

2. The flowers are light pink in color, with frilled edges and appearjust above the rosette of leaves.

3. 4-6 SINGLE FLOWERS ON EACH FLOWER STEM, WITH THE FIRST FLOWERING; APLANT FULLY IN BLOOM HAS 7-9 FLOWER STEMS.

4. The flowers do not drop.

5. Compact habit and excellent growth characteristic.

6. Dark green leaves.

The accompanying photographic drawing shows a typical specimen plant ofthe new cultivar, with the photograph showing a plant 8 weeks afterpotting. The colors appearing in the photograph are as true as possiblewith color illustrations of this type.

In the description, color references are made to the Royal HorticulturalSociety color chart (RHS), 1966 edition, except where general colorterms of ordinary significance are obvious.

Botanical classification: Saintpaulia ionantha, Ramat. cv Louisiana.

Parentage:

Male parent.--F III pink frilled (RHS 62 D).

female parent.--XIX 4395 pink star (RHS 65 A).

Propagation: The new cultivar holds its distinguishing characteristicsthrough successive propagations by leaf cuttings and by division ofshoots.

Plant: From 6 cm. to 8 cm. tall when grown in pots, and approximately 20cm. in diameter when fully grown.

Leaves.--General form: Oblong. Diameter: 40-55 mm. Texture: Tender,slightly hairy. Aspect: Medium-dark green leaves, borders slightlyserrated. Veins: Well pronounced. Color (upperside): 147 A. Color(underside): Young leaves 70 C; old leaves 70 B. Petiole: Brownish red.

Flowers.--Buds: Round, diameter 6-7 mm. Sepals: five, 4-5 mm. long.Color: 199 A. Calyx: funnel-shaped. Aspect: flowers and seed vesselconnected. Peduncle: upright, erect.

Individual flowers.--Size: 45 mm. in total flower diameter. Color:Upperside: 56 B to 56 C, generally apple blossom in color. Underside: 56C. Borne: Most flower stems carry up to 6 flowers. Shape: Five petals,two small and three large; the three large petals are 20-22 mm. long and18-19 mm. wide; the two small petals are 15-16 mm. long and 14-15 mm.wide. Arrangement: Carried on upright and erect flower stems, diameter 2mm.; up to six flowers on each stem. Flowering time: 7-9 weeks afterpotting, the first flowers will show; after 10-11 weeks, the plant isfully in bloom.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: two stamens, color 7 A. Anthers: fouranthers, close together. Arrangement: Underneath the seed vessel, thestamens are connected to the receptacle by two short stems. Styles 6-7mm. long, color 186 C. Pollen color: 158 B.

roots.--Well developed; young roots are white, turning brownish in colorwith age.

Disease resistance.--No disease problems noted to date.

General observations.--Louisiana is a very compact plant with excellentgrowth characteristics. When blooming for the first time, it has 7-9upright stems, with up to 6 single flowers and buds on each stem. Thepink color of the flower is very similar to that of an apple blossom,and the edges of the flower are frilled. The dark green foliage colorprovides a pleasant contrast with the flower color.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of African violet known by thecultivar name Louisiana and characterized by the combined features oflight pink, single, non-dropping flowers having frilled edges andcarried on upright and relatively short stems, with the flowersappearing just above the rosette of dark green leaves; and by itscompact habit and excellent growth characteristics.